Sens. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) have co-sponsored a bill to repeal Michigan’s 2004 prohibition on same-sex marriage, with a big glossy op-ed in the Freep to accompany it.

Now, I’ve been known to disagree with Gretchen Whitmer on women and public policy (Exhibit A in the Huffington Post and Exhibit B, an panel at a college in Michigan). These legislators are progressive Democrats, which means as a libertarian, I disagree fundamentally with them on the role of government in people’s lives.

However, it must be said: Good for them. Seriously. Good for them. It’s unfortunate that the Republicans aren’t winning libertarian votes on this one in Michigan like prominent Republicans across the country are due to a February legal brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of gay marriage. Whitmer and Warren are smart enough to know that this isn’t just about a few San Francisco/New York activists anymore, and that it does affect Michigan deeply on many levels, whether it’s business or health care.

If nothing else, throughout history, telling people that they don’t belong or that they aren’t welcome is a great way to miss out on innovation. While the implication that businesses should provide more mandated benefits is off-base, they are absolutely correct when they write, ” … understandably, people in same-sex relationships are not comfortable living in states where their marriages are not recognized. Michigan would become more business-friendly by embracing marriage equality.”

Never mind the simple fact that when someone states that gay marriage goes against the history of the institution, I’m always tempted to ask, What institution?  When has there ever been consistency about what this state means — Churches have had their way with it, the Romantics have had their way with it, the State has had their way with it, and none of it sticks completely. People fall in love and want to be together — that’s it. It’s just something humans do. And we have this resilient, albeit confused, condition that we like to call Marriage, and now more people want it. It’s a changing point, but it’s certainly not the first nor will it be the last. And thank goodness for that, otherwise I might just be worth a dozen camels. (Those looking for more information onto this revolutionary idea about what marriage means should read “The Subversive Family” by Sir Ferdinand Mount, conservative columnist for The Sunday Times, UK.)

As someone who is currently planning my wedding and deliriously happy about that (except for MAYBE the band search as I want something hippie-dippie Mumford and Sons-esque and my fiance says “bring on the cheese”), it’s just not fair. And this is from a woman who grew up with parents telling her “Fair is Cotton Candy and Ferris Wheels.” Life isn’t fair, and parents do their kids a favor when they say that, but it’s our job to make sure that people have equality of opportunity in this country. Progressives tend to struggle with the ‘equality of outcomes’ part of the equation, but in this case they are spot-on about what needs to be done.

To illustrate, I’ll tell you a true story. The president of a club in Michigan was recently faced with, for the first time, a gay couple requesting admittance. They wanted their kid on the swim team and to be able to play golf and shoot the breeze in the bar after work the same as the rest of their friends. The president of the country club saw nothing wrong with this, but there was one person on the executive committee who strongly opposed it – and that person was Catholic, which presumably had something to do with it. Convinced this would resolve the debate on the executive committee, she said they should put the question to a vote. So it was put to a vote: and you can find these two men and their daughter on the course or at the pool just the same as anyone else now.

The times they are a-changing. Michigan should get on board.

Tuesday April.16/2013

#42 – we all know what the number means.

What significance does a number carry? Obviously we know that a number carries a value of an item or items. They can hold a positive or negative connotation depending on what the number is referring to.

If you are talking about a bank account or an amount of money, the higher the number, the better. If you are dealing with a number of people who want to cause you physical harm, the lower the number the better.

What significance does the number 42 have for you? It can carry many meanings. 42 hours in your individual work week. 42 miles to the gallon that your vehicle gets. 42 miles that you will be walking after your car ran out of gas because you only got 40 miles to the gallon and not the 42 that you thought.

What does 42 mean in the world of baseball? 42 Home Runs in a contract year and you will probably be making 42 million dollars on your next contract. 42 Doubles is a good season.

42 wins by a team in a season is terrible but 42 wins in a row, and they are setting records. Perhaps the most significant use of the number 42 in the baseball realm was by a young 28-year-old Second Baseman named Jackie Robinson.

Movie Trailer for 42:

Jackie Robinson is regarded as one of the best First Basemen to ever play the game.  The man from Los Angeles originally hit for a 3 Slash Line of .311/.409/.883 during his 9 years with the Brooklyn  Dodgers.  Robinson had a keen eye for the plate – Walking 740 versus just 290 Strikeout for his 5804 Plate Appearances.  The man led the NL in SB two times, OBP 1 time and was was the 1949 NL Batting Champion.  Robinson also scored 100 + Runs 6 times.  The Hall of Famer help carry the Dodgers to 6 World Series showdowns versus cross town rival the New York Yankees.  Brooklyn defeated the Bronx Bombers for their only win of those series in 1955.  Robinson retired after the 1956 season.

On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player to play at the Major League level in baseball. Let’s think about how important this is to the history of the game.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that if Robinson had not broken the color barrier, nobody else would have. If not for Jackie, we would never have had the beauty that was the over the shoulder catch of Willie Mays.

We would have never known the legend that was Satchel Paige.

Babe Ruth would still have his career home run record because Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds would never have swung a bat. Ozzie Smith would have never graced us with his beautiful back flip and smooth fielding. Reggie Jackson would never have hit his post-season homers and never would have gotten the name “Mr. October.”

Our eyes would never have had the visual stimulation of watching Ken Griffey Jr. glide across the Kingdome outfield followed by the suspense of whether or not he would get up after his gliding caused his body to collide with the wall and elation as he hops up, ball in hand and jogs toward the dugout.

Finally, we would never have had the joy of the chase last year as minor-league sensation Billy Hamilton broke the single season stolen base record in professional baseball.

Recently, we have had the occasion to honor the man who had the bravery and intestinal fortitude to do something that nobody else had done before.

Every 15th of April in Major League Baseball, all players wear the number 42 in remembrance of the sacrifice that he made. Being the first at something is never easy.

There is nobody that you can call to ask what to do or how to do it. There are no books to read on how to handle the situation. Neil Armstrong had no script to read from or a guidebook on what to do as he became the first man to set foot on the moon. Christopher Columbus had nobody to ask about what to do when you find a new land.

What Jackie Robinson went through was worse than many people up to that point had to endure. For some reason, some people had it in their head that they were better than other people simply because of the color of their skin.

They felt that people who did not have white skin could not do the same things that they could do as well as they could do them. There were people who thought differently though.

One of those people was the President and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was playing in the Negro Baseball League when he was scouted and offered a contract by the Dodgers.

They were looking for a player that was not scared of making a statement and that was willing to turn the other cheek when the persecution came.

They came to an agreement on a $600 a month salary for Jackie to play baseball in the Dodgers Minor League system. His only season in the Minors (1946), Robinson hit for a .349 Batting Average – and flashed the glove to the tune of a .985 Fielding Percentage on his way to the Independent League MVP award.

He was promoted to the Dodgers prior to the 1947 season. There are times in history that define who we are as a human race. April 15, 1947 was one of those times.

Jackie Robinson stepped out onto the soft green grass and light brown dirt of Ebbets Field and trotted to First Base to the cheer of the roughly 14,000 black ticket holders and the inquisitive eyes of about 13,000 white patrons.

I could only imagine how big the knot was in his stomach as he warmed up to the racial slurs that were tossed his way mixed with the words of encouragement.

No matter how hard it was and how bad the threats, slurs, and comments got, he did as he was asked to and turned the other cheek. He let his play speak for him. He fought through the turmoil and finished the year with a .297 Average and compiled 31 Doubles, 5 Triples, 12 Homers, and 29 Stolen Bases.

These numbers also earned him the Rookie of the Year Award.

When Jackie decided to call it quits on his career 9 years later in 1957 – he had earned the respect of the league that welcomed him in by threatening to forfeit the game rather than be on a field with a black player.

He racked up 6 All-Star selections, the NL MVP award in 1949, and finally a World Series Championship in 1955. Jackie was also the Batting Champ in 1949 – and a two-time steals leader for the National League.

In 1962, he was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot with 77.5% of the vote. He was also voted to the ALL – Century team in 1999.

The greatest honor came in 1997 though when Major League Baseball retired his number throughout the game. After Mariano Rivera retires at the end of this year, there will never be another player in American baseball to wear the number 42.

The only exception to this is on April 15 of each baseball season when all players and managers throughout the game wear the number 42 to commemorate the legacy of the man who broke down the color barrier that held the game hostage for so long.

Let us finish where we began. What does the number 42 mean? To so many in the game of baseball it represents the struggle of one man. One man who endured what he did to open the door for so many more to follow.

It represents the bravery that was shown to not conform to popular opinion.

Finally it stands for the ideal that one persons opinion of you does not define or set into stone what you as a person are able to accomplish. With all that said, it ultimately represents one word…. Hope.

Words to live by. Thank you Jackie Robinson.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A big thank-you goes out to our baseball writer Robert Whitmer for preparing today’s featured article.  Robert just grew up in a military house and was used to moving  every three to four years.  He has lived in Oregon, Connecticut, Alaska, Philly, Boston, Arizona, and ended up in the Austin, TX area. Robert loves baseball and has been to Fenway twice. 

Robert has a wife and five kids who are his life and inspiration.  He tries to teach them to love the game for the game and not any other reason.  All of them (but one) bleed Red Sox blue. Robert looks forward to spending time with his readers online, so follow him on Twitter and talk about the game of baseball!  Follow @rwhitmer 

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ROH Television Taping 08/01/10 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Briscoe Brothers vs. Up In Smoke (Cheech and Cloudy)
Bobby Sheilds vs. Rasche Brown
Portia Perez vs. Sara Del Ray
Delirious vs. Rhett Titus
Colt Cabana vs. Sonjay Dutt
Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Black
Eddie Kingston and Necro Butcher vs. The Embassy (Erick Stevens and Joey Ryan)
Alex Payne and Bobby Dempsey vs. Kevin Steen and Steve Corino
Bravado Brothers (Harlem and Lance Bravado) vs. Dark City Fightclub (Jon Davis and Kory Chavis)
#1 Contenders match
American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) vs. Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)

ROH Television Taping 08/01/10 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aden Chambers vs. John Kermon
Bravado Brothers vs. Dustin Starr and Pelle Primeau
Andy Ridge and Sonjay Dutt vs. Up In Smoke
Christian Marino vs. Kevin Steen
El Generico vs. Rhett Titus
Bobby Sheilds vs. Colt Cabana
Austin Aries and Kenny King vs. Roderick Strong and Tyler Black
American Wolves vs. Dark City Fightclub
Bobby Dempsey vs. Steve Corino
Handicap match
J-Sin and Lance Lude vs. Rashche Brown
ROH Tag Team Championship match
Challengers Winners of the #1 Contenders match from Television Taping 07/01/10 vs. Champions Briscoe Brothers

JAPW (Jersey All Pro Wrestling) /ROH Collison Course 09/01/04 Woodbridge, New Jersey
The Ring Crew Express vs. The Dirty Little Scoundrelz (EC Negro and KC Blade)
Derek Wydle vs. Ruckus
Incredible Partners match
HC Loc and Jonny Kashmere vs. Tony Devito and Trent Acid
Special K Scramble match
Azrieal (AngelDust), Jay Lethal (Hydro) and Insane Dragon (Izzy) vs. Special K (Deranged, Dixie and Lit)
Justin Credible vs. Shane Douglas
April Hunter vs. Sumie Sakai
ROH Championship match
Challenger Balls Mahoney vs. Champion Samoa Joe
JAPW Championship match
Challenger Slyk Wagner Brown vs. Champion Dan Maff
Four Corner Survival match
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels vs. CM Punk vs. John Walters

The Battle Lines are Drawn 10/01/10 Wilmington, Ohio
Pure Wrestling Challenge match
Alex Shelly vs. Matt Stryker
HWA (Heartland Wresling Association) Championship match
Challenger Cody Hawks vs. Champion Nigel McGuiness
Chris Sabin vs. Jimmy Jacobs
AJ Styles vs. Homicide
Eight Man Scramble match
Special K { Dixie, Hydro (Jay Lethal) and Joey Matthews} vs. The Carnage Crew {HC Loc (Former ECW Referee) and Tony De Vito (Former Baldie member)} and The Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos)
ROH Tag Team Championship match
Challengers American Dragon and Samoa Joe vs. Champions Briscoe Brothers
Grudge match
The Prophecy (BJ Whitmer, Christopher Daniels and Dan Maff) vs. The Second City Saints (Ace Steel, CM Punk and Colt Cabana)

Proving Ground 11/01/08 Boston, Massachusetts
Eddie Edwards and Pelle Primeau vs. Young Rich and Ready for Action (Kenny King and Jason Blade)
Alexa Thatcher vs. Daizee Haze
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ruckus
Daniel Puder vs. Mike Bennett
Brent Albright vs. Bryan Daneilson
Boston Street Fight
Kevin Steen vs. Necro Butcher
Delirious vs. Sal Rinauro
El Generico vs. Roderick Strong
FIP (Full Impact Pro) Championship match
Challenger Austin Aries vs. Champion Erick Stevens
ROH Tag Team Championship Ultimate Endurance match
Challengers Hangm3n vs. Challengers The Briscoe Brothers vs. Challengers The Vulture Squad (Jack Evans and Jigsaw) vs. Champions Age Of The Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black)

Revenge of the Prophecy 11/01/03 West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Chad Collyer vs. Matt Stryker
CM Punk vs. Michael Shane
No Disqualification match
Da Hit Squad (Mafia and Monsta Mack) vs. The Carnage Crew
Eight man Scramble match
Outcast Killaz (Diablo Santiago and Oman Tortuga) and The Ring Crew Express vs. Special K (Angle Dust, Deranged, Hydro and Yeyo)
Four Corner Survival match
BJ Whitmer vs. Colt Cabana vs. Homicide vs. Paul London
American Dragon vs. Samoa Joe
No Holds Barred match
AJ Styles and Low Ki vs. The Prophecy (Christopher Daniels and Xavier)

Transform 12/01/08 Edison, New Jersey
Delirious, El Generico and Mike Quackenbush vs. Young Rich and Ready for Action
Submission Challenge
Daniel Puder vs. Rhett Titus
Submission Challenge
Alex Payne vs. Daniel Puder
Alex Thatcher and Ernis Osiris vs. Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc (Chris Hero and Sara Del Ray)
Jigsaw vs. Roderick Strong
Jack Evans vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Austin Aries vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Brent Albright vs. Kevin Steen
FIP Championship match
Challenger Bryan Danielson vs. Champion Erick Stevens
Mark Briscoe and The Vulture Squad (Jack Evans and Jigsaw) vs. Age Of The Fall (Jimmy Jacobs, Necro Butcher and Tyler Black)

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KMOX) -  It now appears that five teenaged girls were parked at a railroad crossing on purpose when an Amtrak train slammed into their Jeep near Poplar Bluff early Tuesday morning, leaving two dead and one critically injuried.

Butler County coroner Jim Akers said the Jeep’s occupants were apparently taking part in an online phenomenon called “Ghost Train” in which people park on the tracks, turn off their engines, and wait for “ghosts” to push them to safety.

“It’s folklore, or an urban legend,” Akers said. “Some of the girls (in the Jeep) were obsessed with it, had done it hundreds of times and had never seen a train. Well this was the one time when things went bad.”

Two occupants of the Jeep — 17-year-old driver Haley Whitmer and 15-year-old Victoria “Tori” Swanson, both of Poplar Bluff — were killed.

Whitmer was actually one of three girls able to get free as the train approached, but ran back when her rear seat passengers were having trouble getting their seatbelts off.

Whitmer was able to get one passenger free, 15-year-old Kaitlyn Fowler, before the train hit.

Fowler was airlifted to a Cape Girardeau hospital where she’s in critical condition.

“It’s just a horrible tragedy,” Akers concluded.

Nearly 190 people were on board the westbound Amtrak “Texas Eagle” and no injuries to passengers or crews were reported.

The crossing has a passive warning “crossbucks” sign only, with no flashing lights or gate arms.

Akers said the Jeep Grand Cherokee had a history of mechanical problems but it’s not clear whether engine failure played a part, or the girls stayed on the tracks willingly.

OUR EARLIER STORY:

In far southern Missouri, a vehicle that was stopped on the tracks at a railroad crossing in Butler County was struck by a train early Tuesday morning.

Two teens inside the Jeep Grand Cherokee — 15-year-old Victoria Swanson and 17-year-old Heather Whitmer, both of Poplar Bluff — were killed.

A third teenaged girl was seriously injured and airlifted to a Cape Girardeau hospital.

According to a report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the male driver of the Jeep was not injured but there were no further details of what led to the collision around 12:30 am Tuesday.

Officials say the crossing only had a passive warning crossbucks sign, with no crossarms or signal lights.

 Chelsea is from the Class of 2011 at Whitmer High School.  These are just a few of the images from Chelsea’s Senior Portrait session.

If you are interested in earning your Senior Portraits for FREE, check out my Website or this Blog for all of the details!

Driving down Life’s Boulevard is no paradise
Open up your heart let it lead you day and night
Just do not dwell on things that can’t be undone
Keep pushing forward til the battle is won

Written by me and award winning singer-songwriter Erick Macek, and performed by Erick & Bill Jones, get your free download & watch trailers @ RichTola.com.  Enjoy – R

I just thought I’d post a quick non facebook related post. Even without facebook to remind me of how much I love people in my life (friends, family, etc) I am constantly reminded.

I just got done having a text marathon with Megan Whitmer, Justins younger cousin who I became really close with when we were dating. When Justin and I broke up, I was really upset that she wouldn’t be part of my life anymore, and she was truly upset as well.

Long story short, we just had a lenghty conversation together where I was able to give her advice on something, because she truly still valued my opinion, and it made me feel good.

I think despite losing someone, and maybe no longer being able to be as close, it’s great to know those people havent left your life forever, and that you remain in their hearts, minds and thoughts. She’s such a good girl

That is all.

Xo

Megan came to Kurt Nielsen Photography through our Senior Ambassador Lynzi.  Megan is in the Class of 2011 at Whitmer High School.  Not only is Megan on the Varsity Soccer Team and on the Drumline in the Marching band, but she is also in the National Honor Society and is Senior Class Vice President!  Although we only did an in-studio portrait session, we took some great photos of Megan, and it was a lot of fun!

Call Kurt at (419) 885-7153 to schedule your senior portrait session!

This is Lynzi from the Class of 2011 at Whitmer.  Lynzi plays Varsity Soccer and is an honor student.  She is also my niece, so her session was a lot of fun!  Ask her for her Rep Card and receive half off of your Senior Photo Session!

Here is a sneak peek from that session:

I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek

-C.